Haslam: Feds “Get It Right” with Enhancement Grants

The city of Bolivar, Tenn. also won an enhancement grant, which was presented by Governor Bill Haslam August 7th. Image courtesy Flickr.

The city of Clarksville is getting a $600,000 grant to extend its greenway along with Cumberland River. The money being divvied out by the state is actually from Washington and specifically for projects that would otherwise fall by the wayside.

There were about 80 applications for these so-called enhancement grants this year. Twenty of them will be funded.

Governor Bill Haslam appeared in person to hand the money to the Mayor of Clarksville. While the oversized check said it was from the state Department of Transportation, Haslam credited the federal government.

“We like to beat up on Congress and say all the things they’re doing wrong, but every now and then, they get it right.”

Haslam says the federal program works because decisions on how to spend the money are made locally.

Through the enhancement grants, more than $270 million has been spent on non-traditional transportation projects in Tennessee. Many have been used to revitalize downtown areas or highlight historic attractions.